Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah has inaugurated the State Council on Skills, established to generate employment across the state.
The inauguration followed the constitution of the council approved by Governor Mbah through a letter referenced GHS/361/1/XI/323 dated June 2, 2026. Appointment letters signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, were subsequently issued to members on June 8, 2026.
Speaking at the inauguration held on Monday,15Th June, in Government House, Enugu, Governor Mbah who was represented by the Secretary to the state Government , Prof Chidiebere Onyia, charged members to develop a comprehensive framework for repositioning skills development in the state.
He said, “The council is established to provide overall leadership and strategic direction for skills acquisition, vocational training and the development of implementation plans in Enugu State. The second is that you are all going to serve as the state’s highest decision-making body on skills development
The appointment letter issued to the members of the council states that ,the council was established to provide overall leadership, serving as the state’s highest decision-making body on skills development.
The council is chaired by Governor Peter Mbah ,with Secretary to the State Government; Prof Chidiebere Onyia, as member, Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah,who serves as Member/Secretary; Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology;Lawrence . Ezeh, , Commissioner for Youth and Sports; Lloyd Ekweremadu, Chairman , Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board (STVSMB); Dr. Amaka Ngene a d Commissioner for Labour and Employment. Dr.4 Flex Nnamani.
The council’s terms of reference include developing a Skills Development Vocational Training Framework for Enugu State; formulating a strategic implementation plan for skill acquisition; producing annual operational plans to reposition the state’s skills development system and address youth unemployment; and coordinating the execution of such plans.
Other responsibilities are attracting technical and donor partners, establishing partnerships with employers to secure jobs for trained youths, and developing strategies for the establishment of the Enugu State Vocational and Technology Skills Acquisition Institute with campuses across the three senatorial zones of the state.
Prof. Onyia said the council would place strong emphasis on inclusivity.
“We’re focusing on females and persons with disability. We must make sure that we accommodate that intentionally in what we’re doing,” he said.
He also directed members to study successful models from other states and develop a framework tailored to Enugu’s unique needs.
“Our first real meeting will be convened two weeks from now and within that time I expect members of the team to have set out a framework and look at case studies that will help us put together a framework that speaks to Enugu State,” he said.
He described the council as the apex body on skills development in the state adding that sub-committees could be established where necessary.
Prof Onyia announced that the council would report quarterly to Governor Mbah, while annual reports would be published to ensure transparency and accountability.
Responding on behalf of the council, the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Lawrence Ezeh, described the initiative as a timely intervention aimed at harnessing the enormous potential of Enugu youths.
“As a matter of fact, this council is quite timely because the major task before us today, especially in Nigeria, is how to harness the potentials that our youth have,” Ezeh said.
He noted that although various ministries and agencies were already implementing youth-focused programmes, the newly inaugurated council would provide a central coordinating platform through which policies and recommendations could be streamlined and presented directly to the governor for executive action.
“The only thing we have not done is to have this kind of central council where all our agendas are well articulated and decisions are taken to the highest authority in the state, which is His Excellency the Governor,” he said.
Ezeh assured Governor Mbah of the commitment of council members to deliver on the mandate entrusted to them.
“I want to assure you that as members of this council, we will put in our best, we will put in every effort and work tirelessly to ensure that this task committed to us by His Excellency is a task that must succeed.
“You can convey to His Excellency that the members are very happy to accept the honour of serving in this c taxouncil and we will serve with the best of our ability, “” he said.
